Most of us know one of the most famous verses from the bible, John 3:16 – ” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
If we are His disciples, then we will love ALL that He came to die for. If we don’t love, then we need to ask if we are truly His disciples.
1 John 2:4-6 – 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
I encourage everyone to ask God to give you His love for ALL, that we might truly be showing the world what He is all about. If we do not have love we don’t have God.
Napoleon Bonaparte understood that what most set Jesus apart was His love:
“I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself have founded great empires. But our empires were founded on force. Jesus alone founded His empire on love, and to this day millions would die for Him. I think I understand something of human nature, and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man. Jesus Christ was more than man.”
“I have inspired multitudes with a devotion so enthusiastic that they would have died for me. But to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, my voice. Who cares for me now removed as I am from the active scenes of life, and from the presence of men? Who would now die for me?”
“Christ alone across the chasm of eighteen centuries makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy. He asks more than a father can demand of his child, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart. He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally, and forthwith His demand is granted.”
“Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man with all its powers and faculties becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man’s creative powers.”
“Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame. This is what strikes me most. This is what proves to me quite convincingly that Jesus Christ is God.”
IHS 4-27-14
by Bob with
Sometimes I want to get away from it all. However there’s something that ruins that idea, my one big problem is with me wherever I go…me! Praise God who loves me anyhow! Romans 5:10 – For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
IHS 4/23/14
by Bob withHorror oh horror, oh the screams!
Agony yells out with abandon,
Women bend over and scream with no restraint!
Even children know the horror.
Men groan and fear at what has been wrought.
In anger and revolt the earth roars and shakes,
Thunder and lightning unveil the vulgarity,
Winds rush and push the stench into nostrils!
Animals lift their voice to join the pain in the air.
Despair is thick smoke that burns the eyes and chokes the lungs.
Dreams are dashed and hope seems hopeless.
It is Friday.
A night with no sleep followed.
Fatigue and confusion accompanied by being numb.
Crying remains and is interrupted by memories.
A question of the possible hopelessness of the past.
Dreams of a bright future cannot be found.
Roads seem washed away.
Joy has become sorrow and spirits are retching.
What will happen next?
What shall be done?
Who will be looked upon?
Given answers are not remembered.
It is Saturday.
Morning has come, questions remain.
Another sleepless night filled with death of heart.
What does this day bring?
Sunlight comes and with it good news,
Can it be believed?
It is true! It is true!
Hope and joy are alive!
Stunning laughter replaces tears,
Miraculously the impossible makes sense,
The horror is changed to victory!
Victory brings freedom,
Chains are broken and fear is no more!
Washed away is the shame and sorrow,
Oh the joy! Oh the peace! Oh the wonder!
All is well, all is perfect.
It is Sunday.
Isaiah 53
2 Peter 2:24-25
IHS 4/20/14
by Bob with
So many ask, “How much time do I have to spend in the Word and prayer?” Shouldn’t the question be “How much time do I get to spend in the Word and prayer?” Want a better life? Spend as much time as you can with God, it’s what He wants and how He designed us.
IHS 4-13-14
by Bob with